Staying in an Airbnb? The easiest way to have a car

You’ve found the house you wanted: stone-built, with a view, in a village on Pelion. Then you open the map.

The beach and the taverna your Airbnb host recommended are a long way from the house. The bus comes by a few times a day.

Airbnbs are ideal for groups and families, because they have space and a kitchen. But many are outside the centre, in villages or quiet areas. There, without a car, every trip means a taxi or a wait at the bus stop.

On Sync, private owners and small local rental companies rent out their cars. We call them Hosts. Many Hosts bring the car to your Airbnb’s door.

Do you need a car for your stay?

Answer 4 questions before you book.

How far is the Airbnb from what you want to see?

Open the map and mark the beaches and villages on your plan. If most of them are more than a 20-minute walk away, a car saves you time every day.

Does public transport work for you?

In many villages and islands, the KTEL buses run only a few times a day, especially outside summer. In small places there are few taxis. If you make 2 or 3 trips a day, the cost adds up fast.

How many of you are there, and what are you bringing?

A group of 4 with suitcases needs space. So does a family with a pushchair and child seats. On Sync you see the model and its number of seats before you book.

How flexible do you want your plans to be?

With a car you leave whenever you like: early for the beach, late from the taverna. If the weather changes, you change plans the same day.

Why Sync is the easiest way

The car comes to the Airbnb

Type your Airbnb’s address into the search. Sync shows first the cars that our Hosts deliver to that address.

You see the delivery cost before you book. Some Hosts deliver for free. You pick up the car at your door, at the time you set.

You book the exact model

On Sync you book the specific car you see in the photos, with its model and year.

That matters for Airbnbs: you know in advance whether the car fits down the village lane and whether your suitcases fit in the boot.

No credit card and no guarantee

Sync doesn’t ask for a credit card and doesn’t hold a guarantee. You pay by debit card, and your holiday money stays for your holiday.

See how renting without a credit card works.

Up to 3 additional drivers at no charge

In a group, drivers take turns on long drives. On Sync you add up to 3 additional drivers to your booking at no extra charge. Each driver confirms their details through Sync.

When Sync suits you best

When the Airbnb is in a village

In Zagori and in the villages of Crete, houses are scattered and distances are long.

A local Host brings the car to where you’re staying, as long as the address is within the area they serve.

When you arrive by ferry or plane

A ferry ticket for the car is a separate cost. Over the holidays, car spaces on ferries fill up fast.

If you’re flying to Chania or Kalamata, or arriving on an island by ferry, book a car from a Host at your destination. Some Hosts deliver to the airport or the port, and others straight to your Airbnb.

When the road is narrow or steep

Many traditional houses are on narrow cobbled lanes or steep hills. Ask your Airbnb host how to get to the house and where to park.

If the road is narrow, choose a small car. If the hill is steep and the car is loaded, choose a more powerful engine or an SUV.

When you only want a car for a few days

You can book a car just for the days of your excursions. For example, say you’re staying 7 nights in the old town of Chania.

For the first few days you walk. Then you book a car for 3 days and head to Falassarna and the villages of the White Mountains. Parking in the old town is difficult, so the car only comes when you need it.

How to get a car to your Airbnb

1. Open thesync.com or the Sync app.
2. Enter your Airbnb’s address as the pickup point.
3. Choose your pickup and return dates and times.
4. Browse the cars. The ones that come to your address appear first.
5. Check the price, the delivery cost and the kilometres included in the booking.
6. Book the car.
7. Message the Host in the Sync chat with your arrival time and directions to the house.

Tip: If your address changes, update it in your booking before pickup. The Host must serve the new address. If the new location has a different delivery cost, Sync automatically charges or refunds the difference.

Tips for renting during your stay

Ask about parking

Before you arrive, ask your Airbnb host whether the house has a parking space. In old towns such as Nafplio and Chania, many lanes are pedestrianised or have controlled parking.

Book early for holidays and long weekends

At Christmas, Easter, the 15 August holiday and on long weekends, cars in the popular destinations get booked early.

Book the car together with the Airbnb. You can cancel for free up to 24 hours before pickup.

Check the age and licence requirements

For most cars on Sync you need to be 20 or older and have held your driving licence for at least 1 year. For higher-value cars, the minimum age is 25 or 30.

Bring your driving licence. The Host asks for it at pickup.

Match the times to your check-in and check-out

Each Host sets the hours they deliver. Sync only shows the cars that are available at the times you choose.

Set pickup for shortly after you arrive at the Airbnb. If you’re leaving by ferry or plane, book pickup and return at the port or airport, if the Host serves that location.

In winter, ask about chains

For Airbnbs in mountain villages such as Zagori and Arachova, ask the Host whether the car has snow chains.

Where a car is worth it for an Airbnb stay

In these 4 destinations, many of the best Airbnbs are far from the bus stop.

Pelion

The villages of Pelion are built on the mountainside, with beaches below on the Aegean and the Pagasetic Gulf.

With a car you can go from Makrinitsa to Tsagarada and the beaches of the east coast in a single day. Start with the page for car rental in Volos.

Zagori

The 46 villages of Zagori are scattered around the Vikos Gorge. With a car you can see the view from Oxia and the stone bridges of Kipi on the same day.

Ioannina is the nearest town with an airport. See the cars for car rental in Ioannina.

Chania

In the old town of Chania you walk. For Falassarna and the villages of Apokoronas you need a car.

If you’re flying to Chania, search for a car with pickup at the airport or at your Airbnb. See the page for car rental in Chania.

Messinian Mani

Kardamyli and Stoupa have stone houses and small coves with clear water. Kalamata, with its airport and KTEL bus station, is the starting point.

From there, with a car, you go to any village you like, whenever you like. See the page for car rental in Kalamata.

Frequently asked questions

How early should I book a car for my stay?

Book it together with the Airbnb, especially for holidays and long weekends. You can cancel for free up to 24 hours before pickup, so the risk is small.

Do I need a credit card?

No. Sync doesn’t ask for a credit card and doesn’t hold a guarantee. You pay by debit card.

Will the Host bring the car to my Airbnb?

Yes, if the address is within the area they deliver to. Type your Airbnb’s address into the search. Sync shows those cars first, together with the delivery cost.

Can I take the car on the ferry?

Yes. With a Sync booking you can drive anywhere in Greece, including the islands by ferry. The car can’t leave Greece.

Which car should I choose?

Count people and suitcases. For narrow village lanes, choose a small car. For a group of 5 with suitcases, choose a 7-seater or a car with a large boot.

You’ve found the Airbnb. The car comes to its door.

Find a car for your next trip on Sync.